U.S. patent number 9,144,294 [Application Number 13/125,275] was granted by the patent office on 2015-09-29 for attachment systems.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SURVITEC GROUP LIMITED. The grantee listed for this patent is Stuart Douglas Gregory, Richard Craig Griffin, Paul Alan Oliver. Invention is credited to Stuart Douglas Gregory, Richard Craig Griffin, Paul Alan Oliver.
United States Patent |
9,144,294 |
Gregory , et al. |
September 29, 2015 |
Attachment systems
Abstract
An attachment system principally use on garment (10, 30)
provides a number of aligned loops (15) on the garment and a number
of aligned loops (24) on a load such as an equipment pack (17). The
load also includes an elongate securing member that extends from
the load with a flexible proximal portion (26) and a stiffened
distal portion (27). The stiffened distal portion (27) can be very
readily threaded through successive ensemble loops (15) and load
loops (24) to pull the flexible proximal portion (26) through the
loops (15, 24) to attach the load (17) to the garment (10, 30). The
stiffened distal portion (27) is then fed back through the loops
(15, 24) to provide a geometric lock that prevents the load (17,
18) detaching from the garment (10, 30). Various loads can be
attached in this way.
Inventors: |
Gregory; Stuart Douglas
(Llandulas, GB), Oliver; Paul Alan (Rhyl,
GB), Griffin; Richard Craig (Ruthin, GB) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gregory; Stuart Douglas
Oliver; Paul Alan
Griffin; Richard Craig |
Llandulas
Rhyl
Ruthin |
N/A
N/A
N/A |
GB
GB
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
SURVITEC GROUP LIMITED
(GB)
|
Family
ID: |
40133819 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/125,275 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2009 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 23, 2009 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/GB2009/002538 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
April 20, 2011 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2010/046664 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
April 29, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20110191933 A1 |
Aug 11, 2011 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
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Oct 24, 2008 [GB] |
|
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0819596.8 |
Jun 18, 2009 [GB] |
|
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0910534.7 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F
3/04 (20130101); A41D 13/0012 (20130101); F41H
1/02 (20130101); A45F 5/02 (20130101); A45F
3/14 (20130101); A41D 2300/33 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45C
15/00 (20060101); A45F 5/02 (20060101); A45F
3/04 (20060101); A45F 3/14 (20060101); A41D
13/00 (20060101); F41H 1/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;224/675,579,578,580,583,665,672 ;24/3.7,3.5,3.9 ;2/102 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
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2 753 054 |
|
Mar 1998 |
|
FR |
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97/48302 |
|
Dec 1997 |
|
WO |
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2006/116952 |
|
Nov 2006 |
|
WO |
|
2007/111981 |
|
Oct 2007 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Search Report dated Sep. 28, 2009 issued in connection with related
United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB0910534.7 (1 pg.). cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Larson; Justin
Assistant Examiner: Vanterpool; Lester L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Maschoff Brennan
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An attachment system comprising a support surface provided with
a plurality of spaced aligned loops, and a load provided with a
plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load loops and the support
loops being arranged in an aligned succession to define a path
through the loops, and an elongate securing member extending from
the load and having a flexible proximal portion and a stiffened
distal portion extending from the flexible proximal portion to a
stiffened free end, the stiffened distal portion and the flexible
proximal portion being of approximately the same length, the
stiffened free end of the stiffened distal portion being passed
through successive support surface loops and load loops in a first
direction to draw the flexible proximal portion through said loops
in said first direction, to secure the load on the support surface,
the stiffened distal portion being resiliently flexible so that the
stiffened free end is flexed relative to the remainder of the
stiffened distal portion to allow the stiffened distal portion to
be re-inserted into said path and pass along said path in a
direction opposite to said first direction to locate the distal
portion along the path such that the stiffened free end is again
passed through each of the successive support surface loops and
load loops, wherein the length of the stiffened distal portion
being such that the stiffened free end of the stiffened distal
portion emerges from the path in the first direction before the
flexible proximal portion enters the path.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the flexible proximal
portion and the stiffened distal portion of the or each elongate
securing portion is formed from respective portions of a single
contiguous member.
3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the flexible proximal
portion and the stiffened distal portion of the or each elongate
securing portion is formed separately and connected together to
form the associated elongate securing portion.
4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the stiffened distal
portion extends to the stiffened distal end of each securing
member.
5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the stiffened distal
portion is formed from an adsorbent material, the stiffened distal
portion being treated with a substance to provide said
stiffening.
6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said substance is a resin
or a polymer.
7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the stiffened distal
portion carries an elongate stiffening member to provide said
stiffening.
8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the stiffened distal
portion is formed with an elongate pocket, the elongate stiffening
member being received in said pocket.
9. A system according to claim 7 wherein the stiffened distal
portion is received in a plastics tube shrunk onto the stiffened
distal portion.
10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the elongate securing
member is formed by a webbing.
11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the securing member is
one of two or more securing members, each securing member extending
in two respective opposite directions through a succession of
support surface loops and load loops.
12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the support surface loops
are formed by parallel but spaced lengths of material connected to
the support surface at spaced intervals, each loop being formed
between adjacent connections.
13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the load loops are formed
by parallel but spaced lengths of material connected to a load
surface at spaced intervals, each loop being formed between
adjacent connections.
14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the material is
webbing.
15. A system according to claim 1 wherein the or each securing
member has a constant width along the length thereof, the spacing
between adjacent connections of the material to the associated
surface being such that the or each securing member is a close fit
in the associated loops.
16. A system according to claim 12 wherein the spacing between the
lengths of material on the support surface is equal to the width of
the material on the load surface, so that each load surface loop is
a close fit between two adjacent lengths of material on the support
surface.
17. A load for connection to a support surface and provided with a
plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load including an elongate
securing member extending from the load and including a flexible
proximal portion and a stiffened distal portion, the securing
member extending through said loops and, in use, cooperating loops
on a support surface to secure the load on the support surface, the
cooperating loops on the support surface defining a path, wherein
the stiffened distal portion and the flexible proximal portion
being of substantially the same length, and wherein the length of
the stiffened distal portion being such that a stiffened free end
of the stiffened distal portion emerges from the path before the
flexible proximal portion enters the path.
18. A load according to claim 17 wherein the spaced aligned loops
are provided on a first surface of the load, a second surface
separate from said first surface also including a plurality of
spaced loops.
19. A load for connection to a support surface according to claim
17 wherein said load is military equipment.
20. A load for connection to a support surface and provided with a
plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load including an elongate
securing member extending from the load and including a flexible
proximal portion and a stiffened distal portion, the securing
member extending through said loops and, in use, cooperating loops
on a support surface to secure the load on the support surface, the
cooperating loops on the support surface defining a path, the
stiffened distal portion being resiliently flexible, wherein the
length of the stiffened distal portion being such that a free end
of the stiffened distal portion emerges from the path before the
flexible proximal portion enters the path.
21. A load according to claim 20 wherein the spaced aligned loops
are provided on a first surface of the load, a second surface
separate from said first surface also including a plurality of
spaced loops.
Description
The invention relates to attachment systems and in particular
attachment systems for connecting a load to a support surface.
One form of attachment system comprises of a support surface
provided with a plurality of spaced aligned loops and a load
provided with a plurality of spaced aligned loops, each load loop
being between two adjacent support surface loops and an elongate
flexible securing member extending from the load and being passed
through successive support surface and load loops to mount the load
on the support surface. One example of such an attachment system
for use in military operations (the so-called MOLLE system)
utilises webbing to form the loops and the elongate securing
member. The support surface is, for example, a surface of an upper
body garment and webbings extend circumferentially around the
garment at spaced vertical positions. The webbings are connected to
the garment with the points of connection spaced by about 20 mm to
provide along each webbing a succession of loops with the loops of
one webbing aligned with the loops of the next adjacent webbing or
webbings. The load has parallel spaced bands of webbing on a
surface of the load with the webbings attached to the load at
similar 20 mm intervals to form rows of aligned loops.
The spacing between the webbing rows on the garment and the webbing
rows on the load are at least equal to the widths of the webbings
so that, when the load surface is placed against the garment, each
load webbing lies between and parallel to two adjacent garment
webbings.
When in this position, the elongate securing webbing on the load is
threaded through a path formed by successive garment loops and load
loops until it has passed the last load loop.
It is a disadvantage of such an arrangement that, since the webbing
is flexible and not self-supporting, it is not easy to guide it
through the loops. In use and in wear, the webbings become
distorted and even more soft and pliable and this makes the
threading difficult.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an
attachment system comprising a support surface provided with a
plurality of spaced aligned loops, and a load provided with a
plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load loops and the support
loops being arranged in an aligned succession to define a path
through the loops, and an elongate securing member extending from
the load and having a flexible proximal portion and a stiffened
distal portion extending from the proximal portion to a free end,
the free end of the distal portion being passed through successive
support surface loops and load loops along said path in a first
direction with the length of the distal portion being such that the
free end of the distal portion emerges from the path before the
proximal portion enters the path, the free end allowing the
proximal portion to be drawn through said loops in said first
direction, to secure the load on the support surface.
The provision of the long stiffened distal portion makes it easy to
pass the securing member through the loops.
It is known to provide the webbing that is fed through the loops
with a press stud or some other fastening to allow the end of the
webbing to be secured to the load or the garment to prevent the
free end of the webbing from pulling back and becoming unlaced.
This is also a disadvantage because the fastening makes it more
difficult to thread the webbing through the loops and will have a
tendency to snag on the loops during threading. In addition, the
use of a fastening is disadvantageous because it can be liable to
damage and can be susceptible to being pulled undone. Damage may
occur, for example, if the load is laundered. It is not easy to
secure the fastener in unfavourable conditions and it is sometimes
difficult to know whether the webbing is definitely secured or
not.
Another form of fastening uses a reverse barb which acts to catch
on the loops to stop the securing webbing becoming unthreaded. If,
however, the load needs to be removed, this barb snags very easily
and makes it difficult to undo the securing webbing. The barb is
also liable to damage.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an
attachment system comprising a support surface provided with a
plurality of spaced aligned loops, and a load provided with a
plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load loops and the support
loops being arranged in an aligned succession to define a path
through the loops, and an elongate securing member extending from
the load and having a flexible proximal portion and a stiffened
distal portion extending from the proximal portion to a free end,
the free end of the distal portion being passed through successive
support surface loops and load loops along said path in a first
direction to draw the proximal portion through said loops in said
first direction, to secure the load on the support surface, the
distal portion being flexible so that the free end is flexed
relative to the remainder of the distal portion to allow the distal
portion to be re-inserted into said path and pass along said path
in a direction opposite to said first direction to insert the
distal portion along the path.
This locks the webbing securely. In addition, it avoids the need to
use fasteners to secure the end of the elongate member.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a
load for connection to a support surface and provided with a
plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load including a elongate
securing member extending from the load and including a flexible
proximal portion and a stiffened distal portion, the securing
member extending through said loops and, in use, cooperating loops
on a support surface to mount the load on the support surface, the
distal portion and the proximal portion being of substantially the
same length.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a
load for connection to a support surface and provided with a
plurality of spaced aligned loops, the load including an elongate
securing member extending from the load and including a flexible
proximal portion and a stiffened distal portion, the securing
member extending through said loops and, in use, cooperating loops
on a support surface to secure the load on the support surface, the
distal portion being resiliently flexible.
The following is a more detailed description of some embodiments of
the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the
accompanying drawings in which:--
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a military garment including rows of
loops and with an inflatable lifejacket and equipment packs
attached to the garment,
FIG. 2 is a elevation of an equipment pack having a mounting
surface carrying rows of loops and two parallel elongate securing
webbings extending from the pack,
FIG. 3 is a section on the line X-X of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation of the pack of FIG. 2 against
the garment of FIG. 1 with the loops of the pack between the loops
of the garment and the securing webbings fed through the loops in a
first stage of attachment,
FIG. 5 is a similar view to FIG. 4 but showing a second stage of
attachment,
FIG. 6 is a similar view to FIG. 5 but showing the loops on the
pack and the garment in more detail,
FIG. 7 is diagrammatic view of a carrier vest including rows of
loops and various loads attached to the carrier vest, and
FIG. 8 is a rear view of the carrier vest of FIG. 7 showing a load
attached to the rear of the vest with a load including additional
loops for carrying a further load.
FIG. 1 shows an integrated protective ensemble 10 primarily for
military use. The basic form of the ensemble may be similar to that
described in WO2007/111981A2.
The ensemble 10 has a front panel 11 covering the chest and
extending up to the shoulders of a wearer and arms 12. The front
panel 11 is formed with a plurality of parallel but spaced lines of
webbing 13. One group of lines of webbing 13 is on the left hand
side of the front panel 11 and the other group of lines of webbing
13 is on the right hand side of the front panel 11. The right hand
lines will be described but it would be appreciated that the left
hand lines are similarly formed.
Each line is formed by a length of webbing 13 that may, for
example, have a width of about 16 to 25 mm. The lines are spaced by
a distance that is similar to or greater than the width of each
webbing (16 to 25 mm). Each webbing 13 is connected to the front
panel by a number of spaced stitching lines 14. The stitching lines
14 thus form each webbing 13 into a plurality of loops 15 that may
have a width of that in the width of the webbing or slightly
greater. As seen in FIG. 1, the loops of all the lines are
vertically aligned.
The number of loops in a line of webbing 13 depends on the
available width of the front panel 11 and it will be seen that, in
FIG. 1, this varies from three loops 14 in some lines to seven
loops 14 in other lines.
As seen in FIG. 1, the webbings 13 are used to attach loads to the
ensemble 10 such as an inflatable lifejacket pack 16 and equipment
packs 17.
As described so far, the arrangement is as the known MOLLE
system.
One such equipment pack 17 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Referring to
those Figures, the equipment pack 17 is of generally rectangular
cross-section with a front wall 19 (see FIG. 1) connected to a back
wall 20 by a side wall 21. The back wall 20 carries five lines of
webbing 22 connected to the back wall 20 by stitching lines 23 to
form loops 24. The width of the lines of webbing 22 and the spacing
of the stitching lines 22 is as described above with reference to
the webbings 13 and the stitching lines 14, with the exception of
the lower most line of webbing 18, which abuts the next succeeding
webbing 21, for a purpose to be described below.
Two securing webbings 25a, 25b are attached to an upper end of the
back wall 20 of the equipment pack 17 and, in the position shown in
FIG. 2, extend in parallel directions that are aligned with the
loops 24. Each securing webbing 25a, 25b has a proximal portion 26
that is formed from unmodified flexible webbing material. The
distal portion 27, however, of each securing webbing 25a, 25b is
stiffened so that the distal portion 27 is straight and
self-supporting when unloaded.
There are a number of ways in which the requisite stiffness can be
achieved. The webbings 25a, 25b may have a resin or polymer applied
to the distal portions 27. Another possibility is shown in FIG. 3
in which an elongate plastics strip 28 is inserted into a pocket
formed between layers of the distal portion 27. The distal portion
27 may, in another embodiment, be formed by a double layer of
webbing material to give the requisite stiffness. A further
possibility is to stitch the distal portion 27 with a stitching
pattern that stiffens the distal portion. In a further embodiment,
a plastics tube (not shown) may be placed over the distal portion
27 and then shrunk onto the distal portion to provide the necessary
stiffness.
In all the embodiments described above with reference to the
drawings, the webbings 25a, 25b are formed from a single contiguous
length of webbing that provides both the proximal portion 26 and
the distal portion 27. This is not essential. Each webbing 25a, 25b
may be formed in two parts--one part forming the proximal portion
26 and a second part, connected to the first part, forming the
distal portion 27. In this case, the distal portion 27 may be
formed wholly by a material, such as a plastics strip, that
provides the required stiffness.
In preferred embodiments, the stiffness of the distal portion 27
extends all the way to the free end of the distal portion 27. It
could end before the free end, although, for some arrangements,
this will not be preferred.
However the stiffness is created, the stiffness is such that the
distal portion 27 can be flexed, for a purpose to be described
below, and will then return back to an unflexed straightened
disposition.
The equipment pack 17 is attached to the ensemble 10 in the
following way, with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. First, the back
wall 20 of the equipment pack 17 is placed against the front panel
11 of the ensemble 10 so that each webbing 22 on the back wall 20
is located between respective pairs of webbings 13 on the front
panel 11. Thus the front panel loops 15 and back wall loops 24 are
arranged in an aligned succession to define parallel paths through
the loops 15, 24. There is one exception to this, as seen in FIGS.
4, 5 and 6 the lower-most webbing 18 on the back wall 20 is aligned
with a webbing 13 on the front panel 11 so that their respective
loops are aligned.
Next, the stiffened distal portion 27 of each securing webbing 25a,
25b is fed through successively through a front panel loop 15 and a
back wall loop 24 until the stiffened distal portion 27 emerges
from the front panel loop 15 adjacent the lower edge of the
equipment pack 17. The stiffness of the distal end 27 right up to
the free end makes this a relatively simple task and prevents the
free end of the distal portion 27 folding as it is inserted. Since
the stiffened distal portion 27 is substantially the same length as
the proximal portion 26, which, in turn has of necessity to be of
sufficient length to extend through all the aligned loops 15, 24 to
allow the proximal portion 26 to extend through one path formed by
a succession of aligned loops 15, 24, the part of the distal
portion 27 adjacent the proximal portion 26 will still be exposed
as the free end of the distal portion 27 is emerging from the
lowermost loop Once the distal portion 27 emerges from the
lower-most front panel loop 15, the remainder of the securing
webbing 24, 28 can be drawn through the path formed by the loops
15, 24 by pulling on the free end until the flexible proximal
portion 26 extends through the loops 15 and 24 and the distal
portion 27 is beyond the path and hanging freely.
The free end of the distal portion 27 can then be flexed and the
free end of the distal portion 27 passed up firstly through the two
lowermost loops 24 on the back wall 20 and then through successive
front panel loops 13 (see FIG. 4) and back wall loops 22 along the
path formed by the loops 15, 24 to lock the end of the securing
webbing 25a, 25b. The resilience of the distal portion 27 causes
the distal portion 27 to revert to a straightened or substantially
straightened orientation once it has entered the loops 15, 24. This
insertion continues until the free end of the distal portion 27
emerges from the uppermost of the back wall loops 15 entered by the
webbing 24, 28 (see FIG. 5). Due to the stiffness of the distal
portion 27, this provides a geometrical lock for the end of the
securing webbing 25a, 25b. Loads applied to the equipment pack 17,
18 will not result in the webbings releasing.
It will be appreciated that the stiffened distal portion 27 does
not need to be exactly the same length as the proximal portion 26
because, as seen in FIG. 5, there is an initial part of the
proximal portion 26 that loops over from the attachment point of
the associated strap 25a, 25b into the loops 13, 18, 22. For this
reason, the stiffened distal portion 27 may be slightly shorter
than the proximal portion 26.
The lifejacket pack 16 may be similarly attached to the ensemble
10.
The ensemble described above with reference to the drawings is
intended primarily for use in military environment. There is also,
however, a requirement for an attachment system that has wider
application. Such an attachment system could be used by persons
needing to carry personal equipment that depends on mission
requirements. Examples of such persons are soldiers, sailors,
aircrew, emergency services, police, paramilitary services and
rescue services. The equipment can be selected in accordance with
different types of missions or activities that may be determined
by, for example, environment (for example, hot weather, cold
weather, cold sea), the type of mission (for example, land
missions, water missions or air missions), types of warfare (for
example, nuclear, biological, chemical or conventional) and types
of threats requiring protection (ballistic high velocity, shrapnel
low velocity ballistics, shock explosives).
The garment of this type is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Referring to
those Figures, the garment is in the form of a vest 30 with a front
panel 31 (FIG. 7) and a rear panel 32 (FIG. 8). The front and rear
panels 31 and 32 define between them a neck opening 33 and left and
right arm hole openings 34a, 34b. At the sides, the front and rear
panels 31, 32 are connected by lacing 52 that can be tightened to
ensure that the vest is a close fit. Leg straps 35 extend from the
lower edges of the front and rear panels 31, 32 and, in use, extend
between the legs 36 of a wearer to ensure that the vest 30 does not
ride-up on the wearer. In addition, as seen in FIG. 8, a rear belt
37 is provided on the vest 30 to ensure that it fits tightly around
the waist of a wearer.
The vest 30 may be made from any suitable material. For example,
the vest 30 may be a soft armour vest made from woven KEVLAR.TM. or
having armour plates attached to the inside of the vest 30.
The front panel 31 and the rear panel 32 are provided with webbings
38 constructed and arranged as the webbings 13 described above with
reference to FIG. 1. On the front panel 31 the webbings are divided
into left and right groups, as in FIG. 1, but on the rear panel 32
the webbings 38 extend across the width of the rear panel 32.
As seen in FIG. 7, the front panel can carry various loads. As
shown in this Figure, these may include a lifejacket 39 that can
obtain its buoyancy either from foam or from an inflation system
and which has an inverted U-shape extending around the back of the
neck of the wearer and having the limbs of the U-shape extending
down respective sides of the front panel 13. It can include a
weapon 40 in a holster 41. It can include a pack containing a hard
armour plate 42. It can include a respirator 43, a radio 44 and an
ammunition pack 45. All these loads 39, 41, 42, 41, 44, 45 are
attached to the front panel 31 in the same manner as the equipment
packs 17 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.
The rear panel 31 carries a winch hoist 46 to allow a wearer to be
lifted by a winch and a grab loop 47 that can be gripped by a
person in order to pull the wearer. In addition, the rear panel 32
carries a pack 48 containing armour plate 49. The pack 48 is
attached to the rear panel 32 in the same way as the equipment
packs 17 are attached to the front panel 11 of the ensemble 10
described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In addition, the
pack 48 has an outer surface and is also provided with webbings 51
arranged similarly to the webbing 38 on the rear panel 32. In this
way, further loads can be attached to the pack 48. For example, a
drinking water pack may be carried on the armour plate pack 48.
Of course, other types of load may be attached to the vest 30. For
example, first aid equipment may be attached and survival
equipment, such as flares, radio and radio beacons, may be
attached. In addition, emergency breathing equipment may be
attached or a personal lowering device may be attached.
It will be appreciated that there are a number of modifications
that can be made to the ensemble 10 and the vest 30 described above
with reference to the drawings. The rows 13, 22 and 38 need not be
formed of webbing. They could be formed of any suitable
material.
In addition, the loops 15, 24 need not be in rows. There could be a
succession of single loops for connecting a single load.
The width of the material forming the webbing rows 13 on the front
panel 11 of the ensemble 10 and on the front and rear panels 31, 32
of the vest 30 need not all be of the same width. They could be of
different widths. The webbing in the securing webbings 25a, 25b
could be replaced by any suitable material with a stiffened distal
portion and a flexible proximal portion. There may be less than two
such webbings 25a, 25b or more than two such webbings 25a, 25b.
Once the stiffened distal portions 27 of the securing webbings 25a,
25b have been passed through successive front panel loops 15 and
back wall loops 24, the stiffened distal portions 27 could be
secured to the front panel 11 or the equipment pack 17, 18 other
than by being reinserted through the loops 15, 24 in the opposite
direction. Alternatively, the stiffened portion 27 need not be
substantially the same length as the proximal portion 26. It could
be shorter but still be flexible so that the free end can be flexed
relative to the remainder of the distal portion 27 to allow it to
be re-inserted into the loops 15, 24.
* * * * *